How to Train Your Dragon
Long ago up North on the Island of Berk, the young Viking, Hiccup, wants to join his town's fight against the dragons that continually raid their town. However, his macho father and village leader, Stoik the Vast, will not allow his small, clumsy, but inventive son to do so. Regardless, Hiccup ventures out into battle and downs a mysterious Night Fury dragon with his invention, but can't bring himself to kill it. Instead, Hiccup and the dragon, whom he dubs Toothless, begin a friendship that would open up both their worlds as the observant boy learns that his people have misjudged the species. But even as the two each take flight in their own way, they find that they must fight the destructive ignorance plaguing their world.
Despite a massive budget of $165.0M, How to Train Your Dragon became a solid performer, earning $495.1M worldwide—a 200% return. This commercial performance validated the ambitious narrative scope, confirming that audiences embrace fresh perspective even at blockbuster scale.
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 25 wins & 63 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
How to Train Your Dragon (2010) showcases carefully calibrated narrative architecture, characteristic of Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 38 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.7, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Hiccup
Toothless
Stoick the Vast
Astrid
Gobber
Snotlout
Fishlegs
Character Screen Time
Screen time mapped to story structure
Main Cast & Characters
Hiccup
Played by Jay Baruchel
100% screen time (88 min)
A scrawny, inventive Viking teenager who doesn't fit into his dragon-fighting village. His encounter with a Night Fury changes everything.
Toothless
85% screen time (75 min)
A Night Fury dragon - the most feared and mysterious species. Injured by Hiccup, they form an unlikely friendship that bridges two worlds.
Stoick the Vast
Played by Gerard Butler
52% screen time (46 min)
Hiccup's father, the Viking chief. A legendary dragon fighter who struggles to understand his unconventional son.
Astrid
Played by America Ferrera
68% screen time (60 min)
A fierce, competitive Viking teen who is suspicious of Hiccup's sudden dragon-training success but becomes his ally and love interest.
Gobber
Played by Craig Ferguson
50% screen time (44 min)
The village blacksmith and dragon-training instructor who lost limbs to dragons but maintains his humor. Hiccup's mentor figure.
Snotlout
Played by Jonah Hill
69% screen time (61 min)
Hiccup's arrogant, muscular cousin who embodies traditional Viking values and initially bullies Hiccup.
Fishlegs
Played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse
46% screen time (40 min)
An overweight Viking teen who loves dragon statistics and facts, initially fearful but eventually embraces dragon friendship.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 0 minutes (0% through the runtime) establishes Berk under dragon attack. Hiccup is a scrawny Viking who doesn't fit in, fails to help, causes destruction.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 8 minutes when Hiccup finds and confronts the Night Fury (Toothless) he shot down, but can't bring himself to kill it.. At 8% through the film, this Disruption arrives earlier than typical, accelerating the narrative momentum. This beat shifts the emotional state to -1, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 16 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 16% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to First successful flight with Toothless. Hiccup enters a new world of friendship with dragons, defying Viking tradition., moving from reaction to action. The emotional journey here reflects 4.
At 40 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 41% of the runtime—significantly early, compressing the first half. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Hiccup wins dragon training. Astrid discovers Toothless. Romantic flight sequence - everything seems perfect. False victory., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional state shifts to 10, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 55 minutes (56% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Stoick disowns Hiccup ("You're not my son"). Vikings use Toothless to find the dragon nest. Hiccup loses everything., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point with 4. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 63 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 64% of the runtime. Astrid rallies Hiccup. He realizes he must be himself and convinces the other teens to help. They ride dragons to save the Vikings., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey. The emotional culmination reaches 2.
Emotional Journey
How to Train Your Dragon's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression from -6 to 8. The narrative's emotional pivot at the midpoint—10—divides the journey into distinct phases, with the first half building toward this moment of transformation and the second half exploring its consequences. The progression through 8 emotional states creates a balanced arc that avoids both monotony and excessive volatility.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping How to Train Your Dragon against these established plot points, we can identify how Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish How to Train Your Dragon within the animation genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie and Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. Presage Flower.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Berk under dragon attack. Hiccup is a scrawny Viking who doesn't fit in, fails to help, causes destruction.
Theme
Stoick: "When you carry an axe, everyone around you is safer." Hiccup must prove himself, but in his own way.
Worldbuilding
Hiccup introduced to dragon training. His peers mock him. He learns about different dragon species and their supposed behavior.
Disruption
Hiccup finds and confronts the Night Fury (Toothless) he shot down, but can't bring himself to kill it.
Resistance
Hiccup secretly helps Toothless and creates a prosthetic tail fin. Should he reveal the truth about dragons or keep his secret?
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
First successful flight with Toothless. Hiccup enters a new world of friendship with dragons, defying Viking tradition.
Mirror World
Hiccup and Astrid's relationship begins to develop. She represents both the Viking way and potential understanding.
Premise
Hiccup uses knowledge from Toothless to excel in dragon training. Montage of flying, bonding, and discovering dragons aren't evil.
Midpoint
Hiccup wins dragon training. Astrid discovers Toothless. Romantic flight sequence - everything seems perfect. False victory.
Opposition
Hiccup must kill a dragon in the ring. He tries to show dragons are peaceful but Stoick interferes, creating chaos.
Collapse
Stoick disowns Hiccup ("You're not my son"). Vikings use Toothless to find the dragon nest. Hiccup loses everything.
Crisis
Hiccup at his lowest point. Has lost his father's respect, Toothless is captured, Vikings are in danger.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Astrid rallies Hiccup. He realizes he must be himself and convinces the other teens to help. They ride dragons to save the Vikings.
Synthesis
Epic battle with the Red Death. Hiccup and Toothless work together perfectly. Hiccup sacrifices himself to save everyone.
Transformation
Hiccup wakes up, has lost his leg but gained everything. Vikings and dragons live together. He's finally accepted and respected.